Mounted search and rescue

["Irvin Lichtenstein" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

We not only have old wells but old latrine pits, pools, and tanks.  The
latter are actually more dangerous as the manhole/clean out is fairly large
and often was left barely covered when the facility was abandoned. The fire
company recently had a rescue where a little old lady fell though when a
former cess pool collapsed.  We have a whole neighborhood where electric
pumps have been installed, converting the tanks into surge chambers. 

There have been fatalities from people falling into old tanks while filling
them with yard waste.

Generally, the change in ground cover and level is visible on an oblique
view (at an angle rather than directly overhead) due to subtle shadowing.
The other technology would be ground penetrating radar or synthetic aperture
radar.

Irv Lichtenstein  

-----Original Message-----
From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Una Smith
Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2010 2:04 PM
To: Mounted search and rescue
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Request for Help--Brandon Swanson Search

Irv wrote:
>For instance, to spot wells you will need 1 meter resolution of less.

Yes, if the well is visible, not concealed.  I have had the experience
of stepping on a concealed well.  It was covered by a thin beam and
sheet of plywood over a big hole, with some sand and gravel.  I had a
major "oh s---" moment as the ground sagged beneath me.  I knew what
it was, because I grew up in dug well country.

The approximate location of a well can be inferred from old topo maps
that show where buildings used to stand.  Every homestead had a well.
Comparing old topos to Google maps provides a short list of abandoned
homesteads.

        Una
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